Liner terms define the responsibility of cost (and organization) of the ocean carrier (shipping line) in terms of handling the cargo in the port of origin and the port of destination.
They vary in function of the mode, the set-up of the shipping line and the customs[habits]/rules of the port.
They are made of a combination of a departure and an arrival term:
- Liner In (or Out) – shipping line is responsible for moving the cargo from (to) its holding point in the port to alongside the vessel and then (un) loading it on (from) the vessel.
- Hook – shipping line is responsible for (un) loading the cargo on (from) the vessel.
- Free In (or Out) – shipping line is not responsible for the (un) loading of the cargo.
Up to 9 combinations exist, and we highlighted 3 examples in the above graphic:
- Hook – Hook – the shipping line is responsible for loading the cargo from the quayside onto the vessel at the departing port and offloading in on the quayside in the port of arrival.
- Liner in – Free out – the shipping line is responsible for moving the cargo from is arrival / waiting point in the port of arrival to the quay and then onto the vessel but at the arrival port they are not responsible for any offloading operations.
- Liner in – Liner out – the shipping line is responsible for all handling operations (moving the cargo to the quayside and loading it – and vice versa) in the port of departure as well as arrival one.
More liner terms exist and may be used for certain ports/shipping lines. Please ask your provider for clarification.
« Back to Logistics glossary